A civil war in Burundi began in 1993 and resulted in the death of an estimated 300,000 people, the flight of 500,000 refugees, and the internal displacement of 800,000 persons. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's Committee on Conscience's concern for Burundi stems from: history of ethnic conflict in Burundi; level of human rights abuses; incomplete peace process; continued instability in the region; relationship to the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
Burundi and Rwanda have similar ethnic compositions, and violence in either country has had a serious impact on the other—particularly the assassination of Burundi's president in 1993 and the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. And the internal conflicts in both Rwanda and Burundi were played out in war across the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although human rights abuses still occur, the situation in Burundi has stabilized and significant improvements have been made, starting with a peace agreement signed in 2000 and elections in 2005.
To learn more about the current situation in Burundi, explore the related links on this page.
What is Genocide? »
Rwanda »
Chechnya »
D.R. Congo »
Refugees Today »
Burundi: Current Situation »
World is Witness »
Responding to Genocide Today »
Speaker Series »
See related products in Museum shop »
